Update on 18" 6" rule

[hairball]

I just got off the phone with Captain Bobby Newman who is in charge of the Northern Kentucky area (I believe he said it's the fifth district). He informed me that all of the game wardens are being instructed to NOT cite boaters for having a boat longer than 18"6" on the water. He told me that all the hoopla was simply a product of the rumor mill and that there is a meeting scheduled for next month in Frankfort at which it is expected that the existing length limit will be stricken from the books specifically to accommodate the extra length of today's bass boats. He was very pleasant to talk to and took the time to answer all of my questions.

It sounds like we may still have a bit of an issue, however. It sounds like they still plan on enforcing the horsepower limit. I understand their reasoning as it was explained to me, but the problem still exists. Apparently they have been getting complaints about big motors washing out the lake bed at the ends of some ramps, which has led to some trailers being damaged. It's not hard to see how this could happen and I sympathize with anyone who has sustained damage to their boat or trailer.

It seems to me that there is a better solution to the problem than ticketing boaters for using their big motors. If they are going to increase the length limit to accommodate all bass boats, they understand that we have as much right to use the water as anyone else. Having said that, I believe that it is the responsibility of the state to maintain the ramps in such a way as to allow us to exercise our rights to use the water of any lake we want to fish. I don't know what that would entail - maybe extending all of the ramps long enough to prevent washout at the ends of them, but increasing the legal boat length without allowing for the use of big motors to load them onto their trailers doesn't really change things much. Let the discussion begin.

Oh yeah, one more thing - please don't get indignant with the guys in the field who are just doing their jobs by upholding and enforcing the laws. If the laws need to be changed we have to go through Frankfort.

[Stanley_p]

I like the way you roll, Hairball.

Good job!
Stanley

[DJD]

I wonder what a big motor is? Does a 150hp loading a 18ft bass boat do less damage than a 200hp? I can see a problem there or consider the guy with a Pontoon that might have a 130hp and can't get the boat on the trailer so he just hammers the thing just inching his way up. I agree that they have alot to consider before making a call on that one. Maybe they come back with no power loading???

Extending the ramps....translation is more taxes.

I have met alot of the guys out there enforcing the law and while I give them their due respect I have seen times where they need to get off their high horse and get real.

[RoadToad]

It sounds like we may still have a bit of an issue, however. It sounds like they still plan on enforcing the horsepower limit. I understand their reasoning as it was explained to me, but the problem still exists. Apparently they have been getting complaints about big motors washing out the lake bed at the ends of some ramps, which has led to some trailers being damaged. It's not hard to see how this could happen and I sympathize with anyone who has sustained damage to their boat or trailer.

It seems to me that there is a better solution to the problem than ticketing boaters for using their big motors. If they are going to increase the length limit to accommodate all bass boats, they understand that we have as much right to use the water as anyone else. Having said that, I believe that it is the responsibility of the state to maintain the ramps in such a way as to allow us to exercise our rights to use the water of any lake we want to fish. I don't know what that would entail - maybe extending all of the ramps long enough to prevent washout at the ends of them, but increasing the legal boat length without allowing for the use of big motors to load them onto their trailers doesn't really change things much. Let the discussion begin.

In a perfect world, the ramps would be long enough for this to not be a problem. Now, I don't know how far they'd have to be extended, but I have a feeling it would be too expensive to do them all. Maybe they could extend certain ones, then restrict boats with motors over a certain size to those? I don't know, could this be done fairly? Somehow I doubt it. And I don't have a large boat, so this doesn't apply to me, but I do have a question. Is this washout simply a factor of the size of the motor, or is it caused by people accelerating at the last minute to get their boats all the way up on the trailer? I guess what I'm really asking is, is this last-second acceleration necessary? I don't know how many times I've seen young, apparently able-bodied men, who had their boats up on the trailer to where it would seem to be easy to winch it up the rest of the way, yet instead they put it in reverse, back it off, and then hit the gas, apparently so they can get it far enough up on the trailer to where they don't get their feet wet. You large boat owners, please correct me if I'm wrong, and don't take offense, but I've always wondered how much of this is necessary, and how much is just laziness?

[steemer1]

It could be like in Mich. you have to load your boats without the big motor. I just bought a boat in Mich. and after running it I was getting ready to load it and There was a sign saying no power loading. You get fined if you drive your boat on the trailor. the guy I bought it from told me that you weren't allowed to drive the boat on in any of the lakes in Mich. because it washes away the ramps.

[hairball]

In a perfect world, the ramps would be long enough for this to not be a problem. Now, I don't know how far they'd have to be extended, but I have a feeling it would be too expensive to do them all. Maybe they could extend certain ones, then restrict boats with motors over a certain size to those? I don't know, could this be done fairly? Somehow I doubt it. And I don't have a large boat, so this doesn't apply to me, but I do have a question. Is this washout simply a factor of the size of the motor, or is it caused by people accelerating at the last minute to get their boats all the way up on the trailer? I guess what I'm really asking is, is this last-second acceleration necessary? I don't know how many times I've seen young, apparently able-bodied men, who had their boats up on the trailer to where it would seem to be easy to winch it up the rest of the way, yet instead they put it in reverse, back it off, and then hit the gas, apparently so they can get it far enough up on the trailer to where they don't get their feet wet. You large boat owners, please correct me if I'm wrong, and don't take offense, but I've always wondered how much of this is necessary, and how much is just laziness?

The "apparently able-bodied men" you speak of aren't necessarily always able-bodied. I'm 6'4" and not slightly built but I am disabled. A pinched nerve in my neck and arthritis in my back (among other things) put me on disability several years ago. Not trying to start an argument - just saying.

For those with no experience loading a large boat onto a trailer, it can be much harder than it looks. It depends on boat length, weight, horsepower, ramp angle and wind/current conditions. In many cases it is simply not feasible (or even possible) to winch a large boat onto its trailer.

[smashdn]

Depending on the steepness of the ramp I have trouble loading my boat and it is just a 16 foot bass tracker with a 25. A steeper ramp is easier for me to load on because less of the boat is hitting the trailer as I am pulling onto it.

[buzzking]

I knew this was garbage, but I truly appreciate you taking the time to call. Hats off.

[BubbaBass1]

Hairball, Thanks for the information.

Exception to powerload the boat on the trailer should be made to accomadate those with disabilities. Hunters w/disabilities have exceptions; such as the use of a crossbow during regular achery season.

I would have to agree with some on this post about ABLE BODIED PEOPLE. I have manually loaded my 21' boat from Elmer Davis many times. Is it more time consuming? YES! Is it more work? YES! Is it a pain in the rear? YES! Is it the law? Yes!

As long as I can fish Elmer Davis, Boltz, Corinth, & Kinkaid out of my boat; I am Happy to use my trolling motor and winch to get my boat on the trailer.

BB1

[Monarkman]

I knew this was garbage, but I truly appreciate you taking the time to call. Hats off.

The reports aren't total garbage. It doesn't say if citations were issued, but something must have been said or warnings given to make these guys say they are going to stop fishing lakes they have fished their tournaments on for years.
http://www.hhbassclub.org/hhpicspub.php (click Kincaid and read last paragraph)

[Monarkman]

I emailed H&H Bass Club and this was their reply:

We fished Kincaid on 4/5/09. No one was cited but most of our members with longer boats, including me, received warning tickets for having boats longer than 18.5'. I read the discussion from your link, but don't have a login on fishin.com to reply.

If a cop pulls you over for speeding and he issues a warning instead of a ticket, he is still enforcing the law.

[ryan_ekubass]

well i am glad to see that all that was worked out and i am just curious as to what is goign to be our next topic for discussion....lol